A Bazaar that connects Burma and Madras
Burma and Madras have traditionally been linked by the British rule, people and customs. They still are...
Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary – a commendable conservation effort in Uganda!
Uganda used to have a healthy population of both the Eastern Black Rhino and the Northern White Rhinos. But years of internal strife and wars, encroachment, rampant poaching and hunting, lead to the extinction of the Rhino. The Northern White rhino was last seen in 1982 in Murchison Falls National Park. Similarly, the last Eastern Black...
Budongo Forest Reserve – a neglected gem, soon to vanish!
Oft ignored and considered only as a pitstop when visiting Murchison Falls National Park, Budongo Forest reserve deserves its due! A moist semi-deciduous forest, Budongo is famous for its massive mahogany trees and high biodiversity. Though attacked viciously by extensive logging and encroachment over the years, Budongo has managed to survive till date. However, the...
Mawlynnong – Asia’s cleanest village and Dawki
Welcome to Mawlynnong –“God’s own Garden”, a small village in Meghalaya India. So what’s so special about this village? It is called “God’s own Garden” because of it’s cleanliness. And it was declared as Asia’s (not India’s only) cleanest village by Discover India , way back in 2003. Just an hour away from Mawlynnong is...
Uganda Wildlife Diary
Uganda – the Pearl of Africa, has been on my bucket list for quite some time now! I have been long fascinated by the lure of pristine wildlife areas and of course, the star attractions: the Mountain Gorillas and Chimpanzees in the tropical rain forests! For magnificence, for variety of form and colour, for profusion of...
Driving through an Unforgettable Himachal Pradesh
My kids have always been wanting to witness snowfall, always had skiing in mind coupled with some amount of hiking, trekking etc. So after a lot of iterations we decided to visit Himachal Pradesh and planned for a 10 day trip. Interestingly , while we were trying to optimise travel time, break the trip...
Doubting Thomas – Santhome Cathedral Basilica, Mylapore
A few days back my neighbors son 'Thomas' ran up to me doubting, if he indeed would be promoted to the next grade without writing his exams? Considering the Covid19 pandemic and the countrywide lock down imposed across India in 2020; it is natural to raise a doubt when not sure. So why blame Thomas? I am...
Murchison Falls National Park – A magical wildlife experience
Murchison Falls National Park, at nearly 3,800 sq kms, is the oldest and largest protected area in Uganda. Along with the contiguous Karuma and Bugungu wildlife reserves, the size of the protected area goes up to around 5,000 sq kms. Murchison straddles the Victoria Nile as it cuts across through multiple rapids and waterfalls in its...
Sexy Sadie, The Beatles and the Maharishi
The Beatles and their India connection. Their spiritual journey with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, Indian music and the White Album. The Hippie generation. The Swinging 1960s, The Beatles, India and The Fab Four. A generation disillusioned with the rush for materialism. The turning away from it all. Idealism, Spirituality, Yogis and Sanyasis. The search for Utopia. And...
The Living Root Bridges of Meghalaya – Bridging communities
You think Bridges are non-living things? Wrong You think Bridges are always built? Wrong You think Bridges become weak with time? Wrong You think Bridges retain the same size? Wrong You think Bridges are not handmade? Wrong You think Bridges are built by engineers? Wrong We are talking about the living root bridges of Meghalaya locally known as Jing Kieng Jri,...